If you’ve read my previous post, you’ll know what’s been happening in our lives as a family.
The short version is that in faith, we have made ourselves available for serving Jesus full-time. We seek provisions from God, be it through normal channels where He leads me/us to some part-time work and/or brings clients to Mustard Seed IT OR providing for our financial needs through supernatural means.
[box] “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26[/box]
To say that we are utterly dependent on Jesus, is an understatement. As the days go by, money keeps leaving our bank account but as of yet, there’s no inflow.
I’m not writing this post to garner sympathetic responses to our impending financial position, no, it’s about something much more important.
Amanda and I both feel like we are on this journey alone (aside from the presence of God).
Here we have been obedient to God to turn our backs on what the world considers common-sense/normal (hold a steady job, raise a family, mind your business, live your life and enjoy it) and to step out in faith to an unknown that is scary (in human terms) because according to Jesus,
[box]”Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38[/box]
If I am not mistaken, those who consider themselves to be “real Christians”, that is, Christians who follow Jesus and regard the Bible as the Word of God, would readily agree with Jesus.
There’s a world full of lost people, people who have yet to come into a relationship with Jesus, and to reach these people, God is calling on people to leave normal behind and become a full-time member of His workforce.
Why then do I/we feel like what we have done is something strange, so alien, that those we know, fellow Christians, haven’t come alongside us to encourage us, to lift us up not just in their prayers but in practical ways, that even their presence is a source of comfort to us in these difficult and trying times?
Honestly, the past few days have been very difficult, too much to bear at times because though I know what the LORD wants of us, deserves from us, it just feels like we are wanderers without any real destination or purpose. On more than one occasion, I have wondered if I made a mistake, if I shouldn’t have done what I did, if I have been irresponsible somehow, that could lead to unnecessary distress for my family.
While I am perfect in Christ, I know that He is still working in me and I am far from the man Jesus calls me to be. Though I am aware of my many shortcomings, for over a decade, I have always stepped out in faith to serve Him/His Church/His people. Those of you who know me, know that I am passionate about Jesus and boldly proclaim Him/His Word, even when people (including Christians), don’t like me very much for it. From writing posts on my website to reaching people on YouTube to fielding gut-wrenching emails from those who reach out to me from all over the world to walking alongside many Christians near and far, I have never backed down from serving Him, even when I was/am hurting on the inside.
I don’t have a seminary degree or Bible college qualifications (though as of now, I have been accepted to Malyon Bible College but won’t have the funds to pay for it) but have always believed that it is God who equips and teaches through the Holy Spirit. At times, I wonder if this supposed “lack of qualification” is why no one wants me serving in their Church. The irony of course is that most of the earliest disciples of Jesus were uneducated fishermen. It saddens me that years of faithfully serving Jesus isn’t enough for some people to consider me
[box]”a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15[/box]
I think I have digressed a bit.
Reality is that Amanda and I feel like we only have each other, when it shouldn’t be the case, at least according to the Word of God and the examples from the early New Testament Church.
[box]”For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” Romans 12:4-5
“so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:25-26[/box]
This post isn’t meant to lay a guilt-trip on anyone. We don’t want ANYONE reaching out to us because they feel guilty.
If on the other hand, the LORD lays it on your heart to not only pray for us but to walk alongside us and to embrace us, then by all means, please do so.
I wanted to be honest about where we are and what we are going through as a family.
I don’t want anyone out there thinking that Amanda and I are a bunch of Super Christians who are able to handle everything ourselves and don’t need anyone.
If you are one of the few who have been faithfully remembering us in your prayers, thank you so much because we need all the support we can get.
God bless you.
Thank Sri 🙂